Iveco wows IAA crowds
Iveco wows IAA crowds
Iveco stunned visitors to the IAA Transportation with a host of new product launches and an order for 2 000 eDaily chassis cabs. CHARLEEN CLARKE attended the company’s press conference and toured the stand, which boasted multiple innovations.
From innovative vehicles demonstrating the future of mobility to vehicles harking back to Iveco’s history… there was something for everyone on the Iveco stand. A whopping 17 vehicles were present inside the hall to demonstrate the company’s latest alternative propulsion solutions, while a further 29 vehicles were exhibited in the outdoor area.
For practical reasons, we won’t cover them all, but we’ll take readers through some of the highlights, kicking off with the futuristic vehicles (of which there were many).
New eDaily: popular from day one
The first new product revealed at the press conference was the eDaily. The “electric twin” of the iconic Daily, it offers the full range with all body variants, encompassing vans, cabs, and minibuses from 3.5 to 7.2 tonnes. The electric model maintains the Daily’s celebrated signature features and features a 37 kWh fully modular battery set that allows range optimisation and makes the eDaily adaptable to all missions.
The new eDaily also breaks ground by introducing electric vehicles in the conversion business with the game-changing opportunity to install different types of electric power take off (ePTO) up to 15 kW. This means that it can power refrigeration units, cranes, and other superstructures, including demanding operations such as waste collection and aerial platforms, as showcased on the stand.
Iveco offers a full ecosystem of services with the eDaily to help customers find their way to e-mobility. Dedicated e-services include the innovative eDaily Routing app, which interacts with the vehicle to predict vehicle range, required battery charges to reach the destination, and the precise arrival time. The Iveco ON Easy Daily app, integrated with the Iveco Driver Pal vocal assistant, offers information specific to electric vehicles. This includes vehicle health checks, battery level status, remote scheduling of recharging and preconditioning, navigation to recharging stations, and more.
If initial customer sentiment is anything to go by, the eDaily is bound to be a massive success. Incredibly, during the fair Iveco and Petit Forestier Group (the European leader in refrigerated vehicle rental and leasing) announced the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding for the supply of 2 000 eDaily chassis cabs, with delivery of the first 200 planned for 2023.
Below: One of the stars of the stand was the new eDaily, while Iveco also celebrated its partnerships with Nikola and Hyundai.
The European Nikola Tre FCEV made its world debut at IAA 2022.
Partnerships to the fore
Iveco shared its press conference stage with two strategic partners in its path to decarbonisation: Nikola Corporation and Hyundai Motor Company. When it comes to the former, the companies commercially launched the European Nikola Tre battery-electric vehicle (BEV) and unveiled the European Nikola Tre fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) beta version.
Orders commence for Nikola Tre BEV
Nikola announced the official opening of orders for the European 4×2 Artic version of the Nikola Tre BEV. A zero-emission heavy-duty truck, it has a 4 021-mm wheelbase and features nine batteries with a total energy storage of up to 738 kWh, delivering a range of up to 530 km. An 80% charge takes an estimated 100 minutes at 350 kW. With 480 kW continuous power of the FPT Industrial e-Axle, the truck has the power, torque, and range to perform applications such as hub-to-hub deliveries and regional hauling – and its mileage can be extended with opportunity charging. This performance comes with a low claimed total cost of ownership, making it an operationally and financially viable zero-emission solution.
In line with its driver-centric approach, every detail in the Nikola Tre BEV’s cab is designed to enhance life on board with a spacious and well laid out environment rich in comfort features and advanced functionality. The infotainment system is based on Nikola’s new-generation proprietary operating technology, which integrates infotainment and navigation functions, as well as controls for most of the vehicle’s other functions. The exceptionally smooth ride and a quiet environment add to the superior driver experience, which is expected to make the Nikola Tre a true favourite of drivers across Europe.
Below: The S-Way Fuel Hero features a new Cursor 13 365 kW (490 hp) engine and is offered with a specific configuration of options. These can improve overall fuel efficiency by up to 4%, while Iveco’s Professional Fuel Advising Service can deliver a further 4% in savings.
European Nikola Tre FCEV debuts
The European Nikola Tre FCEV (in beta version) also made its debut, offering a glimpse of the soon-to-come electric propulsion long-haul truck. It is expected to launch in the second half of 2023 in North America and during the first half of 2024 in Europe.
“The Nikola Tre battery-electric and fuel cell electric zero-emission trucks are true game changers in commercial trucking,” Michael Lohscheller, president of Nikola Corporation, told journalists. “Specifically developed as electric vehicles, they deliver the performance and driving experience able to compete with their diesel-powered peers in the toughest heavy-duty missions. They offer operationally and financially viable zero-emission solutions for regional applications and long-distance hauling that will give customers a true competitive advantage.”
“Today we are making history with the first products for the European market of Iveco’s powerful partnership with Nikola Corporation,” added Luca Sra, president of the Truck Business Unit at the Iveco Group. “Together, our teams have designed a modular platform capable of hosting both fuel cell and battery propulsion technologies, starting with the European 4×2 Artic version of the Nikola Tre BEV heavy-duty truck making its debut here today. It is the first-ever electric-born modular platform for articulated heavy-duty tractors hosting both energy sources: battery-electric for missions of approximately 500 km and fuel cell electric powertrain for hauling up to 800 km in its first generation. (This is) a true revolution that marks a tangible step towards our ambitious goal of achieving a zero-emissions transport.”
The European Nikola Tre BEV is produced by the Nikola Iveco Europe joint venture in its dedicated manufacturing plant in Ulm, Germany. The facility, inaugurated in 2021, features a final assembly process specifically designed for electric vehicles and operates to world-class manufacturing standards.
Top left: The eDaily promises to deliver very low operating costs.
Top right: Iveco’s partnership with Hyundai is bearing dividends, as demonstrated by this Hyundai-powered eDaily.
Bottom left:This Daily special edition takes inspiration from the iconic Leoncino.
Partnership with Hyundai comes to fruition
Iveco and Hyundai, meanwhile, unveiled a working prototype of an eDaily FCEV equipped with Hyundai’s 90 kW hydrogen fuel cell system and 140 kW e-motor, alongside a battery pack by FPT Industrial, the powertrain brand of Iveco Group. The 7.2-tonne gross vehicle mass prototype has been tested in Europe, confirming a range of 350 km, maximum payload of three tonnes and a refuelling time within 15 minutes. While the eDaily BEV is best suited to short journeys, the eDaily FCEV will be ideal for deliveries requiring a long range with high payload.
We have no doubt that further developments will materialise with Hyundai; watch this space for more details!
Looking backwards
While Iveco’s stand was very much future-focused, two unique Daily special editions were unveiled during the press conference, showcasing a unique combination of past and future, taking inspiration from two iconic vehicles from the 50s and 60s, the Tigrotto and the Leoncino. These vehicles played a fundamental role in the world of transport, leaving their mark on the booming economy of those years.
The Leoncino special edition was a vintage interpretation of the new eDaily, while the Tigrotto was a variant of the 4×4 Daily. Both were super cool!
New logo colour
There were lots of other extraordinary vehicles on display (far too many to discuss). However, it would be remiss of us not to mention something else very significant: the new colour of the Iveco logo. At IAA 2022, the company revealed the new colour it has chosen for its brand logo. It is called “Energy Blue” and, rather aptly, it associates the brand with power, dynamism, and digital innovation. One thing is clear: this is a company worth watching.
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